Project Description
Ceremonial Sword, Sheath and Belt of Doge Francesco Morosini, 1689
St. Mark’s Basilica, Venice
Project
Restoration of Ceremonial Sword, Sheath, and Belt of Doge Francesco Morosini, 1689
Location
St. Mark’s Basilica, Venice
Project Director
Ministry of Culture, Monuments and Fine Arts Office of Venice
Procuratoria di San Marco
Contractors
Corinna Mattiello, Venice
Coop. di Restauro s.r.l ed Esedra, Venice
Funding
Venetian Heritage
Start date
July 2000
End date
May 2001
Cost
5.040,00 €
These precious objects from the treasury of the Basilica of St. Mark were donated by Pope Alexander VIII Ottoboni to Doge Francesco Morosini in 1689. The sword and sheath are made of gilded silver, the former measuring more than five and a half feet in length without the sheath, and just under two inches in width. Both sword and sheath have suffered considerable damage and several small parts have been lost. The blade of the sword showed signs of corrosion and the gilded silver had become tarnished. The belt, made of brocade cloth with gold thread and a silver buckle, was marked by the corrosive effects of dust and stains. The sword, sheath and belt were taken apart, cleaned of all corrosions and consolidated separately. On the blade a special protective coating was applied.